Accordion strap adjusting device



Nov. l, 1938.v J .M BOLSTER 2,134,854

ACCORDION STRAPADJUSTING DEVICE Filed Sept. 4, 193'? l' ll l" /7 l .15 il 7 a1 W1.

Patented Nov. 1, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE John M. Bolster, Minneapolis, Minn., assignor to Edward Tracante, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application September 1 Claim.

Myr invention relates tok accordions and particularly to .adjusting devices for the Wrist-engaging straps thereof.

Proper and comfortable operation of an accordion requires that the strap which engages the left hand' of the operator be adjustable to enable obtaining a degree of slack therein which permits proper operation of the accordion bellows and easy iingering of the keys controlled by the left hand. It is, of course, highly desirable that the strap-adjusting means be quickly and easily manipulatable to obtain a desired adjustment and that the adjusting means does not constitute an obstruction or impair the appearance of the accordion. The usual type of strap-adjusting means employed on accordions constitutes an obstruction of not particularly pleasing appearance and which may be relatively easily entangled with portions of a musicians costume or other articles.

A general object of my invention is to provide an accordion strap-adjusting device which may be almost entirely concealed within` the structure of an accordion, which will not detract from the appearance of an accordion, which cannot constitute an obstruction, and which may be unusually easily manipulated.

Another object is to provide an accordion strap-adjusting device enabling concealment of the end of the strap connected therewith and associated construction whereby the remaining end of the strap may be concealed to harmonize with the rst mentioned end.

Still another object is to provide an accordion strap-adjusting device of such construction that only a segment of a rotary control element thereof is visible from the exterior of the accordion.

A further object is to provide such a strap- 40 adjusting device of simple, compact, rugged,

effective and inexpensive construction.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will more fully appear from the following description, made in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and in which- Fig. 1 vis a top View of an accordion having an embodiment of my invention incorporated therein;

Fig. 2 is a partial rear view partially broken away to show parts embodying my invention;

Fig. 3 is a section taken along the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, as indicated by the arrows, and

4, 1937, Serial No. 162,472

Fig. 4 is a section taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, as indicated by the arrows.

Referring to the drawing, an embodiment of my invention is shown associated with an accordion A which includes a keyboard 5 and a pair oi boxes 6 and I having bellows 8 therebetween and attached to the respective boxes 6 and `I in the usual manner. The lower (as in Figs. l, 2 and 3) side of the box I includes a removable ypanel 9, which is normally secured to the box 1.

As usual in accordion construction a strap I0 is provided extending longitudinally of the lower side of the accordion, this strap being adjustable as to the amount of slack therein by suitable means.

The right hand end of the removable panel 9 is notched at 6a to provide an opening through which the right hand end of the strap Iii extends into the interior of the box I. I provide suitable means for securing the right hand end oi the strap to the inner side of the panel S. This means may consist of a metal plate II and screws I Ia extending through the metal plate I I, the strap il) and into the material forming the panel 9.

The remaining or left hand end of the panel 9 is provided with a notch 9b through which the remaining or left hand end of the strap I0 projects into the interior of the box 'I. An elongated externally screw threaded element I2 is attached to the left hand end of the strap I0 to project therebeyond as shown in Figs. 2 and 8. An element IZa of U-shaped cross section is joined with the inner end of the elongated element I2 and receives the end of the strap Ill. The U-shaped element I2a is secured to the strap I0 by suitable means such as the rivets I3. Beyond the end of the strap I3 a bracket I4 is secured to the inner side of the left hand (as viewed in Fig. 2) wall 'Ia of the box 'I. The bracket I4 has an inwardly directed portion |40. which is provided with a central aperture through which the elongated element I2 projects. A moderate distance beyond the bracket I4 a second bracket I5 is secured to the inner side of the left hand wall of the box 'I. The second bracket I5 is provided with an inwardly projecting portion I 5a which has an aperture .alined with the aperture of the rst bracket I4 and through which the elongated element I2 extends. A centrally apertured and internally screw threaded operating element I6 preferably of circular peripheral shape is screw threadedly mounted on the elongated element I2 between the portions Illa and I5a of the respective brackets I4 and I5. The rotary operating element I6 is provided with journals ISa on the respective sides thereof, these journals being rotatably disposed in the apertures of the respective brackets I4 and I5, The journal IGa at the lower side of the element I6 is shouldered at its inner portion as at IGI) to form a surface for bearing against the bracket I4. Obviously rotation of the rotary element I 6 will cause movement of the elongated element I2 axially thereof and, hence, will reduce or increase slack in the strap I0.

The above described parts are so arranged that the rotary control element I6 may be manipulated from a point exterior to the box '1. For this purpose the left hand Wall Ia of the box 'i' is provided with a slot I1 and the rotary element I6 is of such diameter as to project in a portion thereof through the slot II to expose a segment of the rotary element I6 exteriorly of the box `I.

It is to be noted that the strap-adjusting device described above is so arranged that all of the same except for a segmental portion of the rotary control element I6 is contained and concealed within the box I. It is to be noted that the device includes no portions of such a nature as to impair the external appearance of the accordion or constitute an obstruction which may become entangled with a users clothing or other articles. It is also to be noted that the right hand end of the strap IIJ, as viewed in Fig. 2, is anchored by means contained and concealed within the box "i, so as to be in accord with the concealed arrangement of the adjusting device at the left hand end oi the box 'I. Furthermore, when the panel 9 is removed for obtaining access to the interior of the accordion, the panel 9 may be swung outwardly and to the left with the strap IQ moving therewith so as to enable completely unobstructed access to the interior of the accordion. In this connection, it is to be appreciated that the usual means for attaching a strap, such as the strap IU to an accordion, are mounted on the exterior of the box 'I in such manner that removal of the panel 9 does not swing the strap out of a position wherein it Will partially obstruct access to the interior o the accordionl It is apparent that I have invented a novel, eiective, compact, simple, easily operated and almost entirely concealed form of adjusting and attaching means for an accordion` strap.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the various parts without departing from the scope of my invention, which, generally stated, consists in the matter shown and described and set forth in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

In an accordion including a box at one end thereof and a wrist-engaging strap extending longitudinally of the outer side of said box, one end of said strap being secured to one end of said outer side, the remaining end of said outer side having an opening therethrough through which the remaining end of said stra-p projects into the interior of said box, a pair of spaced elements mounted in said box and having aligned apertures through the respective ones thereof aligned with said remaining end of the strap, an elongated externally screw-threaded element secured at one of its ends to said remaining end of the strap and extending therefrom through the apertured portions of said spaced elements, and a centrally apertured and internally screw threaded rotatable element screw-threadedly mounted on said elongated element between said spaced elements, said box having an opening therein aligned with the space between said spaced elements and part of the marginal portion of said rotary element being pro jected through said opening to present a portion of the periphery of said rotary element exteriorly of said box to enable convenient manipulation of said rotary element for varying the slack in said strap.

JOHN M. HOLSTER. 

